Appleby Hails Pinatubo as Godolphin Ace is Retired

Godolphin have announced the immediate retirement of last year's champion 2-year-old and three-time group 1 winner Pinatubo.

Pinatubo was flawless as a juvenile, winning at the top level in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) on Irish Champions Weekend and in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at Newmarket. His brilliant performance at the Curragh earned him an official rating of 128, making him the highest rated 2-year-old in the last 25 years.

The son of Shamardal lost his unbeaten record in this year's QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1), in which he could only finish third, although he did add further group 1 honours to his CV when winning the Qatar Prix Jean Prat (G1) at Deauville in July.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: "It has been a great honor and privilege to train a horse of this caliber, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has taken great pleasure in following his career.

"To have a homebred, especially a descendent of the late Shamardal, is fantastic for the breeding operation and we look forward to seeing him stand at Dalham Hall Stud."

Pinatubo's final career start came in last month's Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) when he was a fast-finishing second to Persian King.

Appleby had previously said the Fanduel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) at Keeneland next month was under consideration for Pinatubo, but connections have instead opted to end his career after 10 races. He won seven of them, collecting £966,090 in prize money.

Sam Bullard, director of stallions, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome a horse as exceptional as Pinatubo to the roster at Dalham Hall Stud.

"Last year he carried all before him, most notably in the National Stakes which as we all know was a performance that cannot be matched by any other two-year-olds in the last quarter of a century.

"We were delighted to see him add a third grade 1 win to his superb record in the Prix Jean Prat and now look forward to him beginning his new career, where we're confident he can continue Shamardal's great legacy."

'The Best 2-Year-Old I've Trained'

Pinatubo's nine-length demolition job in last year's National Stakes will be remembered as his career-defining performance on the track.

Speaking after that win at the Curragh, Appleby said: "He's the best 2-year-old I've trained, there's no doubt about that.

"I've been very lucky to have some nice 2-year-olds through my hands so far but something like him is amazing, because he just doesn't do anything in the mornings.

"We only ever see the best of him when he turns up at the track."